Official: European giants snap up Chelsea key man on six-year deal

The London-based outfit Chelsea have reached an agreement with the Champions League winners Real Madrid for the sale of Belgium international Thibaut Courtois, the club confirmed.

Thibaut will join Los Blancos once he has undergone medical and agreed to personal terms on Thursday.

The Blues announced the news on the website and confirmed the summer deal would see Croatia international central midfielder Mateo Kovacic move in the opposite direction.

Real Madrid confirmed Courtois will sign a six-year contract and announced Kovacic would join the Blues on a season-long loan (without an option to buy at the end of the season).

Courtois was presented as a Real Madrid player yesterday and it ends a week of turmoil for the Belgian star and Chelsea.

The goalkeeper went AWOL from training and refused to return to London until the Blues green light his transfer to Real Madrid. Courtois was desperate to leave the Blues to live in the same city as his family.

Courtois has made 126 Premier League appearances for Chelsea since joining the club from the La Liga giants Atletico Madrid back in 2014.